How can Django be viewed as a postmodern film?

Postmodernism is the modern day movement and is a departure and advancement from modernism.
Postmodernism mainly influences to art, music, film and literature. The text that we studied in relation was
Django: Unchained, a film released by the infamous Quentin Tarantino in 2012. The plot follows the life of a
slave, Django (Jamie Foxx), set in 1858 in the Deep South (Mississippi) along with German bounty
hunter/emancipator Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) and owner of the Candy Land slave plantation,
Calvin Candie (Leonardo Di Caprio).
Django is often seen as a postmodern film due to Tarantinos distinctive style and the homage of intertextual
references throughout the film. The first noticeable reference is in the opening credits. Tarantino uses the
original font style and identical music to the original 1966 film, Django. The opening scene is also very
similar to the original. The first film features notorious Italian actor, Franco Nero, who also makes a special
cameo appearance at the bar with Jamie Foxx. Also, many argue that the film has a postmodern element
due to its setting being in the south as opposed to the west like traditional films of this genre. There are also
no cowboys present in the film, instead they are replaced by early white supremacist members of the Ku Klux
Klan. Possibly the most controversial criticisms of the film is the Italian made spaghetti western and use of
international cast. For example the main character, originally played by a white male is portrayed by an
African-american actor. Also, arguably the biggest hero of the film, Schultz, is also played by a German. This
use of cast in unusual and would have been frowned upon in the era that the the movie is based. Two strong
intertextual references from the film involve items of clothing worn by Django himself. The first being when
Schultz allows him to choose his first outfit as a free man. The bright blue attire that he picks out is inspired
by Thomas Gainsboroughs painting of The Blue Boy. This also adds a comedic moment when they arrive in
Candy Land as one of the slave women asks Django if he chooses to wear the clothes that he is dressed in.
The second is the dark green overcoat worn by Django which was also inspired by Little Joes attire worn in
the TV series, Bonanza. One of the main differences between Tarantinos films and other directors is his use
of music and specific soundtracks. Most notably in Django Unchained, he uses various songs from Ennio
Morricones soundtracks for other films. However, the strangest use of music was features from modern day
artists. One of which being Tupacs Untouchable as well as 100 Black Coffins by hip-hop artist Rick Ross.
This latter was produced by Jamie Foxx and made especially for the film itself, showing Tarantinos early
views for the distinct style of the film. The bricolage of folk, hip hop, r&b and spaghetti western classics did
not mix well but for some reason it gave Djangos character a more badass style. The use of parodies in the
film stands out especially through the portrayal of race. A prime example is shown through the character of
Stephen, played by actor Samuel L Jackson. He is treated as a superior to the other slaves in Candy Land.
He also uses the technique of over acting to differ himself from the other characters. This is is continuous
style used by Tarantino in his films. A controversial talking point in the film is the strong use of the word
nigger. The word is heard over 100 times in the film and many criticised Tarantino because of it. In his
defence he said, the word has to be part and parcel of a truthful representation of life in the antebellum
south. Many posed the question that if the word was not used, the film would not have the same impact on
its audience. Also, if they had substituted the word for negro would it have made the story less shocking?
Another controversial point refers back to the idea of a hero in the film. One of the biggest questions was
whether Django was the real hero or whether it was Dr. King Schultz. Many argue that due to the self titled
film, the hero must be Django himself however without Schultz, he would never have been a free man. Also,
it is a well known point that in heroic films, the bad guy is killed by the main hero, and in this case, Schultz
kills Candie and is shortly killed afterwards. An opposing proposition is that even though Candie is killed by
Schultz, the so called hero is then shotgunned through a wall within a matter of seconds. This then sparks
the main shooting action in the film. The idea of a hero, or whether a hero even exists, has to be left down to
the audience and therefore will never be a resolved matter.

In summary, the film is a mashup of multiple things. Classic western themes, revenge, melodrama and
intertextual references from Tarantinos films all contribute to the element of postmodernism within the film.
The future of postmodernism is unknown. Many argue that it will continue to develop, some say that it has
reached its peak and will begin to decline and many people don't even believe that it exists. In my opinion, I
think that postmodernism exists due to the theory that the future exists beyond modernism, however I believe
that a postmodern text is simply an advanced development of evolution.